Download
Observe:
Circle One - What am I saying to myself about my twelve year old son whose grades are falling?
"He doesn't get it. He's not doing his homework. He's distracted. Always playing games on the computer. The teachers tell me that he daydreams. I ground him and take away his privileges. Even that doesn't work. He doesn't seem to have any ambition. He's driving me up the wall. I get so damn frustrated with him. I want to see him do well. If he stays on this track, what will happen to him in high school?"
Circle Two - How am I responding to this problem?
- I'm taking away his privileges.
- I'm making my complaints to him. I am complaining to my wife about him.
- I'm distancing myself from him, so that I don't blow up.
Circle Three - How the situation could be? What are the ideals that I am not realizing?
I want to be a father that communicates, motivates and cooperates with my son.
Circle Four - What irrational, rational and more-than-rational tendencies am I experiencing in this situation? (See Human Tendencies Profile in "Vision Circles - Principles and Strategy")
- I'm confused about what to do with him.(irrational)
- I want to get control and put order into this situation before it gets out of hand. (rational)
- I see my ideals and what's important here.(more-than-rational)
- Maybe I'm depending on the school to turn him around. (irrational)